Live Alive

On 07/07/07, Live Earth: Concerts for a Climate Crisis was created to spark global awareness about the realities of climate change.

In its second year, Live Earth comes to India with Amitabh Bachchan as spokesperson and Bon Jovi to lure the crowd

On 07/07/07, Live Earth: Concerts for a Climate Crisis was created to spark global awareness about the realities of climate change. With 150 of the world’s best artists performing last year across seven continents — including The Police, Madonna and Jack Johnson — it reached an audience of two billion people.

Now, on December 7, India will play host to the concert. Live Earth India will be held at Mumbai’s Andheri Sports Complex. “India has a tradition of recycling and reusing material and has the potential to help lead the rest of the world in solving the climate crisis. We have a lot to learn from traditional Indian culture, particularly sustainability, which is why Mumbai is the venue for this year’s concert,” says Kevin Wall, founder of Live Earth and CEO of Control Room, which produces live music concerts, like Live 8, to combat poverty.

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While Amitabh Bachchan is the official spokesperson of Live Earth’s India chapter, multi platinum rocker Bon Jovi will bring in the crowd. The event boasts of other rock heavyweights like Roger Waters of the erstwhile cult group Pink Floyd and Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas. From the Indian music scene Vishal-Shekhar, Farhan Akhtar, Shiamak Davar and Anoushka Shankar are involved in the concert. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are expected to attend the concert. “The future of the world lies here,” states Will.i.am, who says his music has been heavily influenced by Indian sound. Will.i.am is collaborating with VJ Sophie Choudhary on the hit track Don’t phunk with my heart.

While many key concerns like global warming are on the list, Wall says the main issue this event would be addressing is the challenge of finding clean and renewable sources of energy. “We have requested

India to commit to produce energy from new renewable resources within 10 years,” says Wall.

Shankar, who is already in India to perform with Jethro Tull, says, “This concert could not have happened at a more pertinent time. India is in a position to drastically alter the course of the world with the choices it makes with regard to the environment.” The local beneficiaries of this concert include TERI’s Light a Billion Lives campaign and Climate Project India. “We will help raise money through this event to bring solar lanterns to villages across India,” confirms Wall.